#SwingTheVote

I'm not one of those big bloggers or youtubers working with companies to encourage people - specifically young people - to vote in this general election. However, I'm 18, a first-time voter and strongly believe, everyone that can, should vote.

On the 7th May, there is a General Election and it's looking like it'll be the closest we've had. Young people in the 18-24 year old bracket can swing the vote, as can women, both groups unfortunately make up a big proportion of non-voters.

Throughout history certain people have gone through a lot to gain the right to vote, and I feel that we shouldn't let that go to waste. However, we're also not taught a lot in school about how to vote, what policies to think about, what parties we can vote for etc. alongside that note, I'd like to say that there are other parties outside of 'The Big Five' (or Seven depending on your location). All parties are worth a look at, and weighing up positives against negatives. As well as the parties mentioned in the 'Other Parties' section on the BBC list of parties, there are others specific to your local areas, so maybe look at your constituencies election list.

Today is the last day to register to vote and I'm about to bombard you with links that might help you make a decision or inform you as to why you should vote. Personally, I've been struggling to find information in a concise and easy-to-understand manner so I'm collating all links I've found helpful...

Before I leave you with said links, I'm going to embed a spoken word animation from Grist & Larsen (two incredibly talented creative people) on why you shouldn't just sit and let the election happen without having your say...

Which Party Will You Go To? - Grist & Larsen (link)

REGISTER TO VOTE: https://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote

BBC Policy Guide & List of Parties: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election/2015/manifesto-guide

vInspired: Swing The Vote: (all things you need to know about politics, jargon free): http://swingthevote.vinspired.com

Vote Match - Quiz: http://election2015.votematch.org

Sunday Recap #2

It’s been one of those weeks again. I’m not quite sure how I’d explain what ‘one of those weeks’ are, but it includes listening to music, feeling ill due to anxiety and ‘stress’ and feeling like you haven’t got nearly enough done, because your bed is a lot more comforting than the outside world.

I’ve got coursework deadlines looming (as always pft) and although I’m feeling a lot more confident than I was before Easter, I just want to get it handed in and over with now. My other blog has had some crazy big artists on it, and there are some more on their way, but with A Levels, my inbox and blog drafts have been left to wilt, much like the daffodils in recent weeks.

On a better and more positive note, I’ve had a restricted technology weekend and I’ve loved it. When things get too much, I often spend a day or two in bed, but this weekend I was determined to not let it get to me. So instead I turned off my internet (apart from posting a photo last night), barely went on my phone and chilled. Yesterday, I admit I did get a fair amount of work done in the morning, but I ventured down to the coast, slept for a couple of hours and then enjoyed some fish and chips with a couple of glasses of white wine, whilst chatting with music backing the conversations. This morning, I woke up without a headache (the first time in at least a week), got some coursework done and then finished reading ‘After Aushwitz’ by Eva Schloss. Again, just chilling with music and then cooking up some chicken fajitas, which seems to be my signature dish!

Now, I’m back home and with an early start and long day ahead of me tomorrow, I’m uploading this and then spending my evening sorting out interview questions for MIT Blog to be emailed ASAP.

I also fell in love with a song this week. This doesn’t happen often, I like a lot of songs and certain live or acoustic performances of songs, but there aren’t many songs that I will listen to at least a couple of times every single day. Songs that make that list are ‘Sweet Disposition’ by The Temper Trap, ‘Little Lion Man’ by Mumford & Sons, ‘End Credits’ by Chase & Status, ‘The Funeral’ either the original by Band of Horses or Nina Nesbitt’s cover and then M83 and Dodie Clark’s music in general. This is ‘Keep’ by The White Raven, Bon Iver meets Amber Run meets Biffy/Kings. Link below:

Keep - The White Raven (link)

march favourites.

I've come to the conclusion that I'd rather do these 'monthly favourites' blogs every other month, because doing on every four weeks doesn't seem particular useful, in that I don't want to be restricting content to favourites blogs every month, when I could come up with something else to fill the gap every month. Plus, when I wrote out my list of favourites for February, half of them were the same as the month before...

I'm not a huge fan of March, it usually sees the Easter break at school and the big signs counting down to study leave appear on walls. Can't be dealing with that and it also highlights final coursework deadlines and time going into making folders tidy (mine are pretty good this year!) and writing up revision notes ready for that exam prep. 

Anyway, enough of my moaning about education (I am thankful for it, of course, but we'll get onto that in another blog post...) here are a few of my favourite things from February and March. 

1. My Camera

The last few weeks have seen me get my big camera (Canon 700D) out a little more and boy was it worth it! Even though I still have a lot of learning to do, I'm gradually stepping away from my comfort blanket of Auto and re-learning settings etc. which I hope to continue, if you're a regular reader you'll have seen a few blogposts with some photos in them (if you're not - they're in the archive *cheeky plug*) but seriously, I'm really happy with how my photos and videos are coming out and I definitely want to pursue some projects with that little gem. 

2. Spaced (TV Series)

Sure, I wasn't a teenager in the 90s and I didn't have a clue what this TV series was when it was first on air, however, being the huge Simon Pegg, Jessica Stevenson, Edgar Wright and Nick Frost fan that I am, my step dad mentioned it to me, got the box set and gave it to me and honestly if I can't sleep, feel crap or just want something creative and funny to watch, this is my go to. I love all the characters, their development throughout the series, the writing, setting, filming style, gahhhhh it's all so good! If you haven't heard of it or seen it, it's weird but wonderful! 

3. Moleskine Notebooks

I'm very much a plain notebook person, it has to feel nice and it has to be good for it's purpose, but I'm not always a huge fan of having all those fancy covers, a solid plain front will do me fine. Recently, through my Creative Writing AS, I've got into writing poetry, haha. However, my Mum got me a really nice moleskin soft cover notebook and oh my life, it's now filled with creative juices, I'm surprised the pages aren't wrecked. So that's housing my poetry and random creative and thoughtful words... (I've also got two hard cover notebooks, one for each blog, which keep all my other creative fruit juices in *without apple of course*. 

4. Mum's Roast Chicken Dinner

There's something about sitting down on a Sunday and eating a roast chicken dinner cooked by Mum. From the roast potatoes to the yorkshire puddings, to parsnips and the chicken itself. It's definitely a highlight of my week.

5. The Theory of Everything (film)

I was a bit apprehensive about going to see this film, I'm not sure why but it wasn't one I was feeling too great about seeing on the big screen. Still, I got past that and went and saw it and was impressed. Impressed by Eddie Redmayne's brilliant acting and portrayal of Stephen Hawking. Impressed by the storyline and minor details paid attention to. Impressed by the way in which comedy is injected in small doses, just at the right times throughout. Impressed by the cinematography, there really are some stunning scenes. Impressed by the love story that doesn't throw up all over the other subjects covered in the film and of course, impressed by the little nods to Doctor Who. A brilliant piece of work by all involved and a film I will most probably be getting on DVD.

source

6. Chaos and the Calm - James Bay (album)

There's a bit of a back story to this being in my favourites, basically, I got asked to review it, I got positive feedback, it then got released, went to #1 in the albums chart and has now gone gold in the UK. Apart from this, it's a brilliant album that I've had on repeat, even after listening to it multiple times whilst reviewing (that means I wasn't sick of it and could still bare to listen to the CD on repeat). My iPod also decided it was a great idea to play 'Let It Go' on my home from my last night at club as a leader, oh the tears! If you haven't already heard of this guy or listened to any of his music, a link to his most successful single so far here.

7. After Aushwitz - Eva Schloss (book)

I have a weird obsession with World War II, especially within the sub-topic of the Holocaust, focusing on the concentration camps and inequality cast upon various countries. This book is basically the story of Eva Schloss (Anne Frank's step-sister) and her family before, during and after the war, I've been reading it for a while (to the point I had to restart it at one point) and I'm really getting into it now and enjoying(?! not sure that's quite the right word, but you get what I mean). It's a really good insight into not only the fear and hate she felt whilst going through this but also the system from within the camps and the social views afterwards. 

What have you been loving?

-evan.

a breath of fresh air.

This weekend I've ventured with some of my family, down to the coast. We visited the lovely town of Selsey and are staying here until tomorrow lunch (Monday). It is and I'm sure always will be a place I go to, to feel better.

The past few months especially have left me feeling incredibly deflated and lost, going to the coast and regrouping and grounding myself was much needed, I've been able to get a lot more coursework done and have ended up in a more positive mindset, which is incredibly helpful for the next couple of months ahead with deadlines and exams, that always leave me feeling crap.

Yesterday, we headed to see the lifeboat, I've always loved watching the displays and supporting them as they really are a huge help to a lot of people, and I'm sure they are one of those things that people will not miss until they're gone, which is such a shame and I'm really hoping they don't fade away like many things nowadays, because they really do save lives.

I took along my camera and got a few photos that I'm really happy with. I keep forgetting how refreshing I find just going for a walk with my camera in hand can be, whether I just chill with some music or have some company. It's something I must do more often, I just need to find some places to go and make the most of with a camera, because unfortunately near home, a lot of those places have been built on.

The sea air really has been a breath of fresh air and if anything it knocks me for six when it comes to sleeping, so that really has helped! So when it's all getting too much, remember Evan, Selsey will be waiting for you.

Where do you go to get a breath of fresh air?

- evan.